Aarrgh! I was out doing some ringing in of my own. Given the state of my age and stamina, I was confident I’d be home shortly after dark — in plenty of time to write something well-timed and at least making sense. But alas, here it is, 10 p.m. and I’m out of excuses. Hell, I’m not even inebriated, just full of steak, exceptional company and Rockbridge’s mighty carrot cake. Long drive into the hinterlands, but it’s worth it.

And now a word about the year just past, and the one yet to come. A year ago this night, I was still recovering from the cancer surgery and subsequent infection that had almost taken me off-planet. I had been running around collecting an odd assortment of songs for this movie I’d never seen and which was still being coaxed into its final form. I had no idea whether it was any good, or if anyone would ever see it. And then came Sundance, and the world was never again the same. Then it was Austin, then Kansas City, Columbia, New York, Memphis, Tulsa, Warrensburg, Columbia again, St. Louis and finally Torino. A year of trips, all of them good ones. Blessed many times over, making friends, meeting fans, tabulating expenses and oh, yes, keeping track of a couple of college classes. What a year. What a life-changing difference. I know this is the time for saying, “Boy, I’m glad that’s over.”

But here at the year’s end, I’m instead standing in my own living room, raising a glass of good old country well water, and toasting the future with that time-honored cry of the celebrating multitudes at this, the last minute of the old year.

“One more round, please. For the road.”

All blessings be yours for the coming year.

Marideth